Torpedo-guard.



P. A. STEPHENS.

TORPEDO GUARD.

1 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1917.

12:31: Patente Feb. 26, 1918.

PHIEDI]? A. STEPHENS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TORPEDO-GUAB'D.

7 Applieation filed June .9, 1917. Seria1 1\To. 173,757.

T0 all w7wm 1125 may conce'1m:

Be it knovvn that 11, PHILIP A. STEPHENS, a citizen 0f the United States, rsiding at the city of St. Louis und Stateof Missouri, have invented a new und useful Torped0-Guard, of which the following is a spetzifioati0n.

This. invention relates to improvements in torpedoguards and c0nsists in the novel sonstruction hereinafter disclosed.

An object 01: the invention is 110 provide an efiicient gnard for defleoting an approaching torpedo fr0m its path so as t0 Prevent the sa1ne frorn striking the 111111 of tbe vessel.

Another object of the invention is 110 provide 21 guard fo'r defleoting a torpedo which nmy be readily attached to vessels and which may be hold in proteoting position while the vessel is under way without substantially retarding the rogress of the vessel through thewater.

Ano'ther object of the invention is 130 provide a guard comprising a plurality of vertically suspended strands havingan engaging surface :Eor contacting with the body of the torpedo as the same approaches the 111111 01 the vessel and thereby deflect ehe torpedo from its path.

With the foregoing and other advantages attainable from the con3truction ofthe present invention in vieW, Ihave produced the construction hereinafter fully described, ref erence being made to t11e accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a vessel having the guard of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation 01 a vessel show ing the manner in which the guard is applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of. a part of the supporting means for sustaining the guard in position upon the Vessel.

Fig. 4 is z detailml view in vertical section of the preferred form 01. strand used in the construction of the guard.

Fig. 5 is a, cross section of the same element 011 the line5-5 of Fig. 4.

111 the'embodiment o1. the invention illustrated in the dmwing the support for the guard comprises a series 0f arms 1 p1voted at suitable intervals along the side of the vessel to brackets 2. '111e arme 1 are formed with hooked sections 8 at their outer extremities having eyes 4 a'bove the hooked sections in Which are engaged rings 5 of flexible connections 6. '1he flexible connections 6 at thei1: inner ends are wound 11p011 a drum 7 0;E a windlaes construction 8. Depemling from eaeh of sa1d arms 1s a vert1cal strand 01 cable 9. The uppe1 ends 01 the cables 9 hgwe hooks 10 which fit 0ver the arms 1. Tims When tloe arme 1 a1e raised by the windlass oonstruction the hooks 10 Will slide back wardlyot1 the arme carrying the entire .upper ende of the cables 9 is a longitudinal noble 11, and near the bottom of the oables 9 and oonnectedtherewith is a longitudinal cable 12. Intermediate of the cables 11 and 12 is a longitudinal cable 13, itbeing understood that other longitudinal cables may be provid'ed in order 150 give additional strength to the guard if desired. Extending 1'131- tioally anal disposed a1; considerable interva1s are a series of vertical cables 121, said cables 14 being' supported a1; their upper ende by the longitudinalceble 11 and at their lower ende by the longitudinal cable 12. 1t is the purpose t0 support at either side of Ehe vessel a guard oonstructed substantially as described, the same being disposed in the manner illustrated in the drawing thus protecting both sides of the hull 01 the vessel.

:The intermls o1* sloaces between the strands 11 are of substantial width soihat 21 torpedo approaching the 111111 of the vessel may freely enter between any pair 01 the vertical strands. As it is contemplated ihm; oho guard hall be used when the vessel is under way, it is obvious that before the entire length 0f the torpedo passes between adja- 00111; ones of the oables 14 itwill be overtaken wardly and way from the vessel. As the strands are disposed ab considerable intervals the guard does not present any impact surface against which the torpedo may strike, the stmnds merely serving as actuaing means fo1 turning the torpedo from its path.

In order 130 hold the guard in proper relation, so the ships hull a series of weights 15 a1eattaclmd to the lower end of the guard a1: considerable intervals. In order 130 prevent the backvvard sweep of the guard at the prow of the vessel an outvvardly projec1ting arm 16 is provided. Stay wires 17 extend fro1n the outer end 'of said arm 16 10 the lower palt oft tb.e guard struoture proper. A 

